Jaishankar's Ghana visit yields two MoUs on scientific research and agriculture

Two key memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been signed between India and Ghana during External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar's visit to Ghana. The agreements are for cooperation in scientific research, education, capacity building, and agricultural research and education. They are said to strengthen India's long-standing ties with the African continent and help advance South-South Cooperation on a larger scale.

Jaishankar has arrived in Ghana on the first leg of an official visit to three African countries. The agreements were exchanged at a meeting with Ghana's Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the two countries' bilateral agreements were sealed.

Jaishankar announced the agreements on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The first was signed between the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the University of Ghana. Under it, the two institutions will work together on academic exchange, scientific research and capacity building. Researchers, students and scientists of both countries will get opportunities in new technology and research.

The second agreement relates to farming. It was signed between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ghana's CSIR-Crops Research Institute. The cooperation will cover modern farming techniques, seed research, crop protection and agricultural education. Since both countries depend mainly on agriculture, the agreement is said to directly benefit farmers and food security in both.

On the first morning of the visit, Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations in detail. The meeting specifically discussed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ghana last year and the momentum that relations have gained since. Expanding partnership in trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, development cooperation and defence was stressed in the talks with President Mahama.

Jaishankar wrote on X that he was happy to address a distinguished gathering on India, Africa and the Global South at Ghana's Foreign Service Institute. In his words, the challenge for diplomacy in today's turbulent times is to keep competition from turning into confrontation and to promote cooperation even when interests differ. He also wrote, "We hold Africa in our hearts and will build a partnership that is not just for today, but for generations to come."

Jaishankar said India and Ghana are important partners of the Global South. The two countries share a similar outlook on development and have inherited a legacy of historical solidarity. Beyond bilateral trade, the two leaders also had positive discussions on supporting each other at multilateral forums and on further firming up India's engagement with the African Union and the West African bloc ECOWAS.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Jaishankar is visiting three African countries, Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire and Ethiopia, from October 6 to 10. During the five-day tour he will hold bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of all three countries and meet their top leadership to review friendship and cooperation.

Throughout the tour, the emphasis is on expanding trade and economic ties between India and African countries, completing development projects faster, exchanging digital technology and strengthening direct people-to-people contact.